Setting up first dirted tank, so many questions

[connorlindeman]

I’m going to be using play sand ontop of the dirt layer, thanks for the suggestion though.

imo there's absolutely no reason to waste money on dirt. really not worth it

 

[Rocky998]

imo there's absolutely no reason to waste money on dirt. really not worth it

Yah, you can get it for dirt cheap right outside your home

 

[SRbettas]

imo there's absolutely no reason to waste money on dirt. really not worth it

I have heavily planted tanks which require nutrients taken up through the roots in order to thrive, if I just used sand I would need root tabs and potentially liquid fertiliser too. By using soil I can add a nutrient rich layer for the plants to feed off that will last longer and in the long run be cheaper than buying root tabs every couple months.

 

[itiwhetu]

I don't vacuum my tanks and just use the fish waste as fertilizer for my plants.

 

[Rocky998]

I don't vacuum my tanks and just use the fish waste as fertilizer for my plants.

I vacuum every other WC because I dont want my fish to have a feces filled bottom... It just doesnt seem right to me

 

[SRbettas]

I don't vacuum my tanks and just use the fish waste as fertilizer for my plants.

I do this in my community tanks too, im only looking at adding dirt for heavy root feeders like crypts and swords.

 

[itiwhetu]

I do this in my community tanks too, im only looking at adding dirt for heavy root feeders like crypts and swords.

Good idea, I would rather do that than add fertilizers and root tabs

 

[Colin_T]

The dirt doesn't provide nutrients for long tho.

If you want to add something to the substrate, add balls of red clay. They have way more minerals and iron in than ammonia producing dirt.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

OK. I've actually done this on quite a few tanks, including both of my current ones. I usually go 1" of dirt under 1.5-2" of sand.

The dirt does provide nutrients for quite a long time, actually. In my dirted tanks, with amazon swords, crypts, dwarf lilies, and other heavy root feeders, it takes several months to several years before I have to start adding root tabs.

The ammonia danger is blown out of proportion, IME. Sure, fresh dirt can release some ammonia. Very little of that makes it into the water column, and that clears up in a few weeks, about the time it takes your tank to cycle anyway. Saves me the trouble of adding ammonia. The early decomposition also seems to release a lot of CO2, which can give your plants an early boost if you're going low-tech.

Does dirt give any advantage over sand and chemical ferts? Not really. The real reason I do dirted tanks is that I enjoy the idea of making my tanks as close to nature as possible, and nature uses dirt, not root tabs. It always kind of amazes me that people are so scared to use something that doesn't come out of a bag from a store. Plain old dirt is safe and effective, as evidenced by pretty much every body of water in the world.

If you want to go all-natural, just dig up some soil from your back yard and go for it. If it has healthy plants and earthworms growing in it*, if it's at least a couple dozen meters from any major roadway, if it hasn't been sprayed with pesticides or chemical fertilizers, if you don't live in a mercury or uranium mine, it should work just fine. If you aren't sure or if you're just nervous about it, get some organic potting soil from your gardening center or hardware store (that's what I usually use, mostly because it's nice not having to dig out all the worms and grass roots). Commercially available soils will have a list of ingredients on the package. Avoid anything with chemical fertilizers, vermiculite/perlite, or anything that you can't pronounce or identify. You want some combination of sand, peat, loam, maybe a bit of compost (not much). That's it.

In an established, stocked tank with cycled media where you're going to have to add fish right away? It might be easier to go with sand and tabs, but you can still use dirt if you want to. If you do, plant it densely, light it brightly, keep close tabs on ammonia and nitrites for a couple months until the biology settles down, and be prepared to do big water changes if things go south. Your established media should take care of any ammonia issues, and your plants will feast on all that lovely filth under the sand.

*plants and earthworms are signs of healthy soil. You don't necessarily want to put them in your aquarium, although if you miss one or two it won't really hurt anything unless you have toxic plants. A dead worm or a bit of grass root will just decompose along with all the other goodies in the soil.

 

[itiwhetu]

OK. I've actually done this on quite a few tanks, including both of my current ones. I usually go 1" of dirt under 1.5-2" of sand.

The dirt does provide nutrients for quite a long time, actually. In my dirted tanks, with amazon swords, crypts, dwarf lilies, and other heavy root feeders, it takes several months to several years before I have to start adding root tabs.

The ammonia danger is blown out of proportion, IME. Sure, fresh dirt can release some ammonia. Very little of that makes it into the water column, and that clears up in a few weeks, about the time it takes your tank to cycle anyway. Saves me the trouble of adding ammonia. The early decomposition also seems to release a lot of CO2, which can give your plants an early boost if you're going low-tech.

Does dirt give any advantage over sand and chemical ferts? Not really. The real reason I do dirted tanks is that I enjoy the idea of making my tanks as close to nature as possible, and nature uses dirt, not root tabs. It always kind of amazes me that people are so scared to use something that doesn't come out of a bag from a store. Plain old dirt is safe and effective, as evidenced by pretty much every body of water in the world.

If you want to go all-natural, just dig up some soil from your back yard and go for it. If it has healthy plants and earthworms growing in it*, if it's at least a couple dozen meters from any major roadway, if it hasn't been sprayed with pesticides or chemical fertilizers, if you don't live in a mercury or uranium mine, it should work just fine. If you aren't sure or if you're just nervous about it, get some organic potting soil from your gardening center or hardware store (that's what I usually use, mostly because it's nice not having to dig out all the worms and grass roots). Commercially available soils will have a list of ingredients on the package. Avoid anything with chemical fertilizers, vermiculite/perlite, or anything that you can't pronounce or identify. You want some combination of sand, peat, loam, maybe a bit of compost (not much). That's it.

In an established, stocked tank with cycled media where you're going to have to add fish right away? It might be easier to go with sand and tabs, but you can still use dirt if you want to. If you do, plant it densely, light it brightly, keep close tabs on ammonia and nitrites for a couple months until the biology settles down, and be prepared to do big water changes if things go south. Your established media should take care of any ammonia issues, and your plants will feast on all that lovely filth under the sand.

*plants and earthworms are signs of healthy soil. You don't necessarily want to put them in your aquarium, although if you miss one or two it won't really hurt anything unless you have toxic plants. A dead worm or a bit of grass root will just decompose along with all the other goodies in the soil.

I like your comment about stuff bought out of shops. For some reason in this day and age, if it bought out of a shop it is seen to be safe and if it comes from nature it must be bad.

 

[Rocky998]

I like your comment about stuff bought out of shops. For some reason in this day and age, if it bought out of a shop it is seen to be safe and if it comes from nature it must be bad.

I think though for a beginner in the hobby its best to be safe and purchase from a store. And in some areas li!e mine, you really really don't want to plop a random something in the tank... Its disgusting out here... Although I MAY use a piece of wood I find on the beach someday. What I'm saying is, at times its better to be safe than sorry... Especially if the dirt has pesticides. That'll kill off your tank

 

[Essjay]

I’ll see if I can find some peat then, hopefully my garden centre will have some.

You will have problems sourcing pure peat in the UK. There are pressure groups aiming to stop the sale of any product containing peat and most things sold by garden centres these days are either peat free or with a small amount of peat in them. You may have to look for an on-line specialist seller.


Apparently, over 80% of the UK's peatland habitats have been lost. This is why the move to peat free is gaining momentum.

 

[SRbettas]

You will have problems sourcing pure peat in the UK. There are pressure groups aiming to stop the sale of any product containing peat and most things sold by garden centres these days are either peat free or with a small amount of peat in them. You may have to look for an on-line specialist seller.


Apparently, over 80% of the UK's peatland habitats have been lost. This is why the move to peat free is gaining momentum.

yes your right I'm struggling to find any products near me, do you have any you would recommend? I cant get it out the garden as I use pesticides and fertilisers.

 

[Essjay]

I've never used anything but gravel or sand in my fish tanks so I'm afraid I can't make any recommendations.

 

[SRbettas]

All I can find near me is this Miracle gro all purpose. As essjay mentioned its almost impossible to find soil containing peat. The ingredients are Wood fibre, Bark fines, Coir and composted Green waste, does this seem ok?